ASU BASEBALL: A split decision

Rams win series against SE Okla. after a wild Day 2

Patrick Dove/Standard-Times Angelo State University’s Ryan Greer slides safely into third base Wednesday during the first game of a doubleheader against Southeastern Oklahoma at Foster Field. shot/archived 3.13.13$RETURN$$RETURN$

Patrick Dove/Standard-Times ASU junior Christian Summers fields a ground ball Wednesday afternoon in the first game of a doubleheader vs. Southeastern Oklahoma at Foster Field.$RETURN$$RETURN$

SAN ANGELO, Texas - Solid pitching can be the difference between winning and losing.

That was the story Wednesday for the Angelo State baseball team, which earned a doubleheader split against Southeastern Oklahoma at Foster Field.

Angelo State, which is ranked No. 12 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, defeated the Savage Storm 5-3 in Game 1 before losing the nightcap 15-14 in 10 innings.

"I couldn't have been more proud of how we competed," Angelo State head coach Kevin Brooks said of the doubleheader. "If we can play like that every game, we're going to have really good results. Obviously the results weren't what we wanted in the second game."

The Rams (14-6 overall) were unable to translate their strong pitching performance from Game 1, which saw five hurlers allow three earned runs on seven hits, to the second game of the twin bill.

Graylon Brown, who was the Game 2 starter for Angelo State, did not hit his spots against the Savage Storm, which led to a quick hook. Brown, a redshirt freshman from Brownwood, struck out one batter and allowed four runs in 2/3 of inning.

"We needed to start throwing strikes," Angelo State senior right-handed pitcher Michael Lange said. "We might have been picking at the corners too much, but we need to throw more strikes to be effective."

Southeastern Oklahoma State (12-10) took advantage of the Rams' faulty pitching by scoring six runs in the top of the first, which was jump-started by a home run to left fielder by Evan Ramsey. The Savage Storm would tack on five more runs before ending the inning.

The Rams would battle back by scoring a combined five runs in the second and third innings to cut the deficit to one run (6-5) going into the top of the fourth.

"We had confidence in the way that we were hitting the ball that we would come back," said Angelo State senior Quaid McKinnon, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Game 2. "We gave ourselves a chance."

Angelo State would give up five runs in the top of the fourth before tying the game up in the bottom of the ninth.

"The biggest disappointment is beating yourselves by walking guys," Brooks said of the Rams walking 13 batters in Game 2. "It's just tough to give them a good chance of scoring."

The Rams' offense was able to bail out the pitching in Game 2, though.

ASU's Lee Neumann tied the game up at 14-14 following a two-run single that seemed to take all the momentum from the Savage Storm.

But Southeastern Oklahoma State would add a run in the top of the 10th and kept the Rams scoreless to earn the victory.

"It was a tough way to lose, off a doink hit," McKinnon said. "But we have to take the positives, knowing that we hit the ball real hard today, from this game.

"This was a great preparation for Lone Star Conference play. It was a grind-it-out type game."

In the first game of the day, Angelo State outlasted the Savage Storm 5-3 in a seven-inning contest.

The Rams jumped out to a commanding 5-0 lead at the end of the sixth before Southeastern Oklahoma battled back in the seventh.

"The guys have been working with the coaching staffs on their approaches at the plate," McKinnon said. "We have been hitting the ball real well over the last two weeks."

Tucker Alexander started the Savage Storm's late rally by hitting a bases-loaded, two-out single that scored his team's first run of the game.

Angelo State's Tyler Coughenour injured himself on the same play while making a diving play at the hit ball that went past his glove. Coughenour, who had an apparent right knee injury according Brooks, would not put any pressure on his right leg as he was taken off the field.

Southeastern Oklahoma would plate two more runs before Chevis Springer hit a weak grounder to the mound that ASU's Jake Feckley fielded and made the final out.

ASU's Jake Albert was credited with the win in Game 1 and improved his record to 2-1. Feckley got his third save of the season.

Angelo State is scheduled to start LSC play Friday by hosting Texas A&M Kingsville. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m.